Buffer apparatus of a treadmill

ABSTRACT

A buffer apparatus of a treadmill including a bed rested on the ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus. A rail upward extends from the bed for a user to hold. The buffer apparatus is connected under the tread apparatus. The buffer apparatus includes an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit for inflating the main body. The main body has a buffer section and a fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread apparatus. The buffer section has a large interior space. After the main body is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a bottom end of the buffer section is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section. The main body further has an intake and an exhaust port. After the pressurizing unit is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body through the intake and the exhaust port.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a buffer apparatus of a treadmill, and more particularly to a buffer apparatus with damping effect.

FIG. 8 shows a buffer apparatus 6 for a conventional treadmill. The buffer apparatus 6 is made of rubber material for buffering the instantaneous reaction force and protecting a user from getting hurt when treading the tread board. However, such rubber-made buffer apparatus 6 can hardly provide different buffering effects for different users with different weights. Therefore, the safety in use of the treadmill can be hardly ensured.

FIG. 9 shows another type of buffer apparatus 7 having different sections made of different materials with different densities. Such buffer apparatus 7 can provide different buffering effects according to different requirements of different users. However, before using the treadmill, a user must first try different materials and then choose one suitable for the weight of the user. This is quite inconvenient to the user.

FIG. 10 shows still another type of buffer apparatus 8 of a treadmill. Such buffer apparatus 8 is filled up with a liquid to provide better buffering effect. However, the buffering effect of such buffer apparatus is not adjustable in accordance with the weights of different users.

It is therefore tried by the applicant to provide an improved buffer apparatus of a treadmill to solve the problems existing in the above conventional buffer apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a buffer apparatus of a treadmill. The buffer apparatus is connected under a tread apparatus on which a user treads. When different users with different weights tread on the tread apparatus, the buffer apparatus can adjustably provide better buffering effect for the users according to the users' weight. Accordingly, the buffer apparatus is able to achieve damping effect and protect the users from getting hurt.

According to the above object, the buffer apparatus of the treadmill of the present invention includes a bed rested on the ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus. A rail upward extends from the bed for a user to hold. One end of a frame body is connected with the bed. The tread apparatus includes a tread board supported by the frame body. The tread board is looped with an endless flexible tread belt which can circularly revolve. The buffer apparatus is connected under the tread board. The buffer apparatus can provide adjustable buffering effects for different users with different weights so as to properly reduce the reaction force exerted onto the users in treading.

The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the position where the buffer apparatus of the present invention is mounted;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the buffer apparatus, tread board and frame body of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the pressurizing unit and the main body of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the automatically sensing operation of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a first type of conventional buffer apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a side view of a second type of conventional buffer apparatus; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of a third type of conventional buffer apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1. The treadmill of the present invention includes a bed 1, a tread apparatus 2 and a buffer apparatus 3. A rail upward extends from the bed 1 for a user to hold. One end of a frame body 12 is connected with the bed 1. The tread apparatus 2 includes a tread board 21 supported by the frame body 12. The tread board 21 is looped with an endless flexible tread belt 211 which can circularly revolve. When a user treads on the tread board 21, the user generally exerts a greatest downward treading force onto a substantially middle section of the tread board 21. Accordingly, two buffer apparatuses 3 are respectively arranged under two sides of the substantially middle section of the tread board 21 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In this embodiment, each buffer apparatus 3 includes an inflatable hollow main body 31 and a pressurizing unit 32. The main body 31 is made of flexible and stiff material such as rubber. The pressurizing unit 32 is disposed inside the main body 31 for inflating the main body 31.

Each main body 31 has a buffer section 311 and a fixing section 312. By means of the fixing sections 312 and fixing members 313 ( such as screws ), the main bodies 31 are respectively fixed under two sides of the substantially middle section of the tread board 21. In this embodiment, the buffer section 311 is positioned on outer side of the fixing section 312. The buffer section 311 has a large interior space. After inflated, a bottom end of the buffer section 311 is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section 312 to keep abutting against the frame body 12. The main body 31 has an intake 314 and an exhaust port 315. After the pressurizing unit 32 is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body 31 through the intake 314 and the exhaust port 315 for regulating the internal air pressure of the main body 31 so as to provide suitable buffering effect for the user.

Referring to FIG. 4, the pressurizing unit 32 includes a motor 321 fixed in the main body 31, a pressurizing cylinder 322 also fixed in the main body 31 and an air pressure sensor 323 disposed on outer side of the main body 31. The air pressure sensor 323 communicates with the exhaust port 315 of the main body 31 for exhausting the air and detecting the air pressure.

The motor 321 is connected with a crank 325 for driving a piston 326 to reciprocally move within the pressurizing cylinder 322. The piston 326 serves to one-way stop the air from flowing. The pressurizing cylinder 322 has a first conduit 327 communicating with the intake 314 of the main body 31 and positioned on one side of the piston 326 and a second conduit 328 communicating with the interior space of the main body 31 and positioned on the other side of the piston 326. The air is sucked into the pressurizing cylinder 322 from the intake 314. The air goes through the piston 326 to be compressed into the interior space of the main body 31. The first and second conduits 327, 328 are respectively equipped with check valves 329 for avoiding backflow of the air.

In use, the motor 321 is activated to drive the crank 325 for reciprocating the piston 326. When the piston 326 is pushed toward the second conduit 328, the air is sucked from the intake 314 into the pressurizing cylinder 322. Then the piston 326 moves in reverse direction and the air goes through the piston 326 to be compressed by the piston 326 into the interior space of the main body 31. The above operated is repeated to continuously fill the air into the main body 31. The air pressure sensor 323 serves to detect the air pressure in the main body 31.

When a user treads on the treadmill 2, the user can adjust the air pressure in the main body 31 according to his/her own weight and the comfortableness in treading. Accordingly, when the user treads on the tread apparatus 2, the treading force is absorbed by the buffer apparatus 3. When treading, the heels, ankles and knees of the user bear less reaction force. Therefore, the present invention is able to achieve damping effect and protect the user from getting hurt.

Furthermore, the present invention can employ an automatically sensing measure. FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the automatically sensing operation. With respect to different users with different weights, the air pressure sensor 323 of the pressuring unit 32 can detect the internal air pressure of the main body 31. In the case that the air pressure is too great, the air pressure sensor 323 can properly exhaust part of the air. In the case that the air pressure is insufficient, the air pressure sensor 323 is electrically connected with the motor 321 to turn on the motor 321 for sucking air into the main body 31 to achieve the necessary air pressure.

In addition, the main bodies 31 are respectively arranged under two sides of the tread board 21. Therefore, the buffer apparatuses 3 only bear vertical pressure without bearing any transverse frictional force. Therefore, the buffer apparatuses 3 have longer using life.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the tread apparatus 2A further includes a frame body 12A for supporting the tread board 21A. The buffer apparatuses 3A are mounted under front section of the frame body 12A between the frame body 12A and the bed 1A.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the tread apparatus 2B further includes a frame 12B for supporting the tread board 21B. The buffer apparatuses 3B are mounted under middle and rear sections of the tread apparatus 2B between the tread apparatus 2B and the ground. This can also protect the user from getting hurt.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A buffer apparatus of a treadmill comprising a bed rested on the ground, a tread apparatus and a buffer apparatus, a rail upward extending from the bed for a user to hold, the buffer apparatus being connected under the tread apparatus, the buffer apparatus including an inflatable hollow main body and a pressurizing unit for inflating the main body, the main body having a buffer section and a fixing section for fixing the main body under the tread apparatus, the buffer section having a large interior space, whereby after the main body is inflated by the pressurizing unit, a bottom end of the buffer section is still lower than a bottom end of the fixing section, the main body further having an intake and an exhaust port, whereby after the pressurizing unit is activated, the air can go into and out of the main body through the intake and the exhaust port.
 2. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tread apparatus includes a tread board supported by a frame body, the tread board being looped with an endless flexible tread belt which can circularly revolve, two buffer apparatuses being respectively arranged under two sides of a substantially middle section of the tread board.
 3. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under front section of the frame body between the frame body and the bed.
 4. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buffer apparatuses are mounted under middle and rear sections of the tread apparatus between the tread apparatus and the ground.
 5. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressurizing unit is disposed inside the main body, the pressurizing unit including a motor fixed in the main body, a pressurizing cylinder also fixed in the main body and an air pressure sensor disposed on outer side of the main body, the air pressure sensor communicating with the exhaust port of the main body for exhausting the air and detecting the air pressure.
 6. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the motor is connected with a crank for driving a piston to reciprocally move within the pressurizing cylinder, the piston serving to one-way stop the air from flowing, the pressurizing cylinder having a first conduit communicating with the intake of the main body and positioned on one side of the piston and a second conduit communicating with the interior space of the main body and positioned on the other side of the piston, whereby the air is sucked into the pressurizing cylinder from the intake and goes through the piston to be compressed into the interior space of the main body.
 7. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second conduits are respectively equipped with check valves for avoiding backflow of the air.
 8. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 5, wherein the air pressure sensor of the pressuring unit can detect internal air pressure of the main body, in the case that the air pressure is too great, the air pressure sensor properly exhausting part of the air, in the case that the air pressure is insufficient, the air pressure sensor being electrically connected with the motor to turn on the motor for sucking air into the main body to achieve necessary air pressure.
 9. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 1, wherein by means of the fixing sections and fixing members, the main bodies are respectively fixed under two sides of the substantially middle section of the tread board, the buffer section being positioned on outer side of the fixing section.
 10. The buffer apparatus of the treadmill as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fixing members are screws. 